I'm RDPing from Windows 7 to Windows XP. The client machine has two monitors.
I want to have the RDP session full screened on Monitor 2, with the client machine's Windows 7 living on Monitor 1.
I also want to be able to "escape" from the RDP session without using the mouse.
The RDP Display and Local tabs let you configure this kind of thing. I have tried every combination of Resolution + "Windows key combinations work on This Machine / Remote Machine / Only in fullscreen."
No matter what I pick, if I go into Fullscreen mode (Ctrl + Alt + Break) with the RDP window, there's no way to get back out by the keyboard alone.
If I pick "Windows key combinations work on This Machine," then Alt + Tab simply does nothing as long as I'm in full screen. If I take the RDP window out of fullscreen, then Alt + Tab works locally as expected, and I can use the Alt + PgUp and Alt + PgDown hotkeys to scroll through programs on the remote machine.
If I pick "Windows key combinations work On Remote Machine / In fullscreen only," then Alt + Tab will be sent to the remote machine as expected. However, the Ctrl + Alt + Right/Left Arrow shortcut, which Windows Vista help says "enables you to tab out of the Remote Desktop controls," does nothing.
What in the world is going on?
Best Answer
I think this may be a dupe of Keyboard-Only navigation between Full-Screen MS Remote Desktop remote system and local system
You can get back out of fullscreen mode by using Ctrl + Alt + Break again. It toggles between fullscreen/non-fullscreen. Once you are back out of fullscreen mode, Alt + Tab will work locally.
A nice enhancement would be some way to Alt + Tab out of the RDP session without leaving fullscreen. I find Ctrl + Alt + Break followed by Alt + Tab to switch to the application I want to use followed by Alt + Tab to get back to the RDP session followed by Ctrl + Alt + Break to toggle fullscreen again to be extremely cumbersome.